Modular storage system

ABSTRACT

A modular storage system includes at least one container defining an axis and spaced end walls at opposing ends along the axis. A cylindrical shell generally extends about peripheries of the end walls and having an axis generally coextensive with the axis of the container. A top panel selectively provides access to the top of the container from an upper or top side of the container. A side panel selectively provides access to the container from a side thereof. An attaching device is provided for selectively attaching a bottom side of the container to an upper side of a like container. A gripping member at an upper side of each container allows gripping and holding and transporting one or more containers when attached to each other by the attachment device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to storage devices, and morespecifically to a modular storage system.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various storage systems are known. Most of these systems are static andmaintain a fixed configuration under all conditions of use. Thus, forexample, there are small rectangular toolboxes used by workman anddo-it-yourselfers. In the purchase of such a product a buyer needs todecide how large such a tool box needs to be and anticipate the sizethat will be required for a given number of tools and/or materials to bestored. In some cases, professional mechanics have relatively large toolcabinets, typically provided with a plurality of differently sizeddrawers for storing a greater number of tools and/or materials. Again,however, the purchaser needs to decide as to the size that such a toolcabinet needs to be. If more storage is needed the only solution is toacquire an additional storage unit which, however, does not cooperatewith the initial unit. It simply supplements the storage capacity of theinitial unit(s).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a modular storage system inwhich one or more modules may be attached to each other in any desiredconfiguration or array of modules. Whatever configuration is selected itmay be supported on any suitable support surface, such as the floor, ormounted on a wall. Each module may have its interior storage areaaccessed from the fronts of the modules, or the tops or sides of themodules depending on the specific locations of the modules within themodular array. Two or more modules may be joined to each other so thatthey can be jointly lifted and transported or moved to a differentlocation and combined with another array of modules at a differentlocation. In this of way, different modules in an array or modularconfiguration may be labeled or marked for specific tools and/ormaterials and selected for any given project or job without the need totransport other tools and/or materials that may not be pertinent orgermane for a given or project. This allows a workman to take only thetools and/or materials needed without having to transport many toolsand/or materials that tend to be heavy and bulky and burdensome totransport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects will become apparent when the drawings of thepresent invention are considered in detail along with the specification,taken with the drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective rendering of a storage module in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the storage module shown FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the storage module shown in FIGS.1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the storage module shown in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the storage module shown in FIGS. 1-4,shown with the storage drawer fully pulled out to from the storagemodule housing, the top cover opened and a storage tray normally withinthe storage module removed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of two storage modules of the type shown inFIGS. 1-5, shown connected to each other in piggy-back fashion orvertically stacked.

FIG. 7 illustrates the stacked modules shown in FIG. 6, with the drawerof the upper module moved to the opened position.

FIG. 8 is a perspective rendering of a storage module with its drawermoved to the opened position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective rendering of an array of storage modulesconnected to each other in accordance with the invention, in which thearray consists of two columns one with two storage modules and one withthree storage modules.

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 9, but showing the drawer of the uppermoststorage module moved to the opened position.

FIG. 11 is similar to FIGS. 6 and 7, but showing the cover of the uppermodule opened and a storage tray a bout to be replaced and positionedwithin the upper storage module.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, in which the identicalis similar parts will be designated by the same reference numeralsthroughout, and first referring to FIG. 1, a modular storage unit ormodule is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

The storage module 10 includes a housing 12. The specific shape orconfiguration of the housing 12 is not critical and any suitableconfigurations or shapes for such housing 12 may be used as long as themodule 10 otherwise has all of the features or functions required toprovide the advantages of the invention. In the preferred embodiment,the housing 12 is essentially elongate and generally defines ahorizontal axis when supported on a horizontal surface or mounted on avertical wall. The housing 12 has a generally uniform cross-sectionalong its axis to define a cylindrical housing. In the specific unitshown in FIG. 1 the housing 12 has a generally rectangular cross-sectionwith rounded or bulging opposing lateral side walls. The sidewalls 14,therefore, bulge outwardly to provide lateral convex configurations asshown. The top wall 16 (as well as the bottom wall) are generally flat.A front wall 18 of a drawer, to be more fully described, is dimensionedto close the housing at one axial end while a rear wall closes the rearopposing axial end.

The top wall 20 is a provided with indentations or recesses 20, one suchrecess being provided at each corner of the rectangular top wall. Eachof the recesses 20 are dimensioned to receive legs or downwardlydepending extensions of another like storage module to be placed on thetop wall and secured to the storage module housing 12. Another recess 22is provided for receiving and storing a handle 24 when the handle needsnot to be used and, especially, to enable another storage module to beconnected to the top wall 16. Additional recesses 25 may be provided forplacement of a small items of hardware, such as screws, nails of thelike while a workman is working on a project.

The sidewalls 14 are preferably formed with ribs 26 to stiffen thesidewalls which may be formed of relatively thin sheet material. A track28 is provided extending in a generally axial direction midway betweenthe top and bottom walls, and therefore along the housing having thegreatest lateral dimension. A series of a locking tabs 30 are mounted ona slide rod or strip 32 connected to a stacking release tab 34. When thestacking release tab or finger grip 34 is in an essentially retractedposition it is generally flush with the exterior surface of the drawer18. However, when the stacking release tab 34 is pulled forwardly of thewall 18, the slide rod or strip 32 is likewise moved forwardly carryingthe locking tabs 30 along the track 28. It will be evident that, fromthe discussion that follows, that the aforementioned mechanism may beused to secure two or more modules to stack these side-by-side along ahorizontal direction. To facilitate the use of the stacking release tab34 there is preferably provided a space 36 between the stacking releasetab 34 and the proximate end of the sidewalls 14 to enable a user toplace his or her fingertips within the space 36 to facilitate a pullingof the tab and, therefore, of the slide rod 32 and the locking tabs 30.When these are to be returned to a locking position the stacking releasetab 34 can simply be pushed in rearwardly until the tabs 30 are returnedto the position shown FIG. 1.

A rotatable locking latch 38 includes a suitable finger gripping meansfor gripping of the latch and for rotating the latch at least an angulardistance sufficient to lock and unlock the drawer, as the latch isrotated from one extreme position to the other. In the presentlypreferred embodiment, the latch is rotatable 90 degrees from a positionat 42, in which the drawer is locked to a position at 44 in which it isunlocked and can be easily pulled out from the housing 12.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, provided along the bottom surface of the bottomwall 46 are four legs or protrusions generally configured to securelyfit within the recesses 20 in the top wall 16 of a cooperating stackedstorage module. The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 is somewhatdifferent from the embodiment 10 shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment,the sidewall 14 is formed of a lower portion 50 which may be integrallyformed with the bottom wall 46, while an upper portion 52 may beintegrally formed with the top cover or wall 16. A pair of axiallydisplaced latches 54 are provided with slots 56 for receiving any tabsattached to the lower portion 50 to which any suitable lockingmechanism, such as a padlock, can be used to unlock the relativepositions of the lower and upper portion 50, 52 to prevent inadvertentopening of the top wall or cover 16. However, it will be evident thatany suitable locking mechanism may be used to maintain the upper coveror top wall 16 in the closed position shown, and the specific lockingmechanism is not critical for purposes of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the drawer 58 is secured to the front cover or wall18 and is dimensioned and configured to be slidably received within aninternal compartment 60 of the housing 12. As suggested above, thespecific cross-section of the housing 12 is not critical. However, theconfiguration of the drawer 58 preferably conforms to the internalconfiguration of the compartment 16. When the top wall or cover 16 isopened a storage tray 62 may be removed or inserted into the housingabove the level of the drawer 58 so that the tray 62 does not interferewith the free sliding axial movements of the drawer. The tray 62 is adesirable but non-critical element or component of the invention andtakes advantage of any space above the drawer 58 to store small items,such as fasteners, small tools, etc. The tray 62 is easily removable andmay rest on or be supported on a ledge or other suitable supports tomaintain the tray at an appropriate level within the compartment 16.

In FIG. 6, two storage modules 10, 10 a are shown stacked one above theother in a piggy-back arrangement in which the modules are mounted oneabove the other in a generally vertically spaced direction. As such, thehandle of the lower module 10 is collapsed into the appropriate recess22, as noted, while the handle 24 of the upper module 10 a may be raisedas shown. The two modules can be locked together in the positions shownFIG. 6 by any appropriate or suitable means. Advantageously, twovertically stacked modules can be unlocked or separated by means of astacking release lever 40 that can disengage the two vertically stackedunits from each other. However, it is important that when these unitsare engaged or secured or attached to each other that the lockingmechanism be such that it can support the weight of one or more lowermodules. In the case of the configuration shown FIG. 6, the lockinglatch mechanism used must be sufficiently strong to support the weightof the lower module 10 when the upper module 10 a is raised such as bymeans of the handle 24. Thus, each of the storage modules includes twoseparate and distinct locking mechanisms—a first to releasably securestorage modules stacked one on top of the other and a second toreleasably secure two laterally adjacent modules. In FIG. 7, the drawer58 has been opened while the modules 10, 10 a continue to be attached orconnected to each other. In a similar fashion, the drawer 18 of thelower module can likewise be pulled out. In the configurationillustrated in FIG. 7 the top cover or wall 16 of the upper module 10can be opened while the cover of the lower module 10 must be maintainedin a closed condition when the two modules are fixed or connected toeach other.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIGS. 5 and 7, in which a rendering illustrates themanner in which the drawer can be opened.

FIG. 9 illustrates another example of a configuration of an array ofstorage modules in accordance with the invention. Here, five storagemodules are connected to each other in two columns, one including twomodules and the other three modules. As suggested, these modules can beselectively connected and disconnected to release each other by pullingthe appropriate stacking release tabs 34, 40. If, for example, a workerneeds to take the short column of the two storage modules to a worksitethe two release tabs 34, 40 of each of the two units in the short columnare pulled forward thereby disconnecting the lateral modules from eachother by moving the locking tabs 30 out of engagement with theappropriate mating retaining member (not shown) on the opposite side ofan attached module. Any other disengagement mechanism may be used. Now,the shorter stack of two storage modules can be transported togethersince the upper and lower modules in the short column continue to beconnected to each other. If, for example, a worker wished to remove theuppermost storage module in the stack of three modules its release tab40 can be pulled to disengage the uppermost module from the middlemodule, as shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, it will be evident, as previouslysuggested, that the uppermost storage modules can be accessed by pullingout their respective drawers, as shown FIG. 10, or by opening the uppercover or wall 16, as shown FIG. 11. Of course, each of the drawers ofany of the units of the modular array can be selectively opened bysimply rotating the latch 38 of the associated attached units andpulling out the drawer forwardly.

Preferably, any suitable mounting means can be used on the rear walls ofeach of the units (not shown) to attach the units to a vertical surfacesuch as a wall. Such retaining mechanism preferably allows each of theunits to be selectively removed from the wall to provide addedflexibility in assembling and moving storage units as needed. It willbecome evident, therefore, that the modules of the storage system of thepresent invention provide significant flexibility and ease in customtailoring a module storage system or array, to satisfy almost anyrequirement. By using smaller, modular units tools and materials can bemore specifically apportioned and organized to permit a worker to takeonly that storage module or two or more storage modules needed on aproject and leave all the others behind. This allows a worker to remainorganized and avoid having to transport heavy and bulky toolboxes fullof tools and/or materials that may not or will not be necessary for agiven job or project.

It should also be evident that the ability of the modular storage systemto be configured in almost any array also makes the system suitable tocreate an array that conforms to almost any available storage space.Thus, if the available space is rectangular, triangular, arcuate or thelike an array consisting of a number of appropriately-sized columns canbe assembled to fit almost any such spaces.

While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it willbe understood that the there is no intention to limit the invention bysuch disclosure, but rather, it is the intention to cover allmodifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

1. Modular storage system comprising at least one container defining anaxis and spaced end walls at opposing ends along said axis, acylindrical shell generally extending about peripheries of said endwalls and having an axis generally coextensive with said axis of saidcontainer, a top panel for selectively providing access to the top ofsaid container from an upper or top side of said container, a side panelfor selectively providing access to said container from a side thereof;attaching means for selectively attaching a bottom side of saidcontainer to an upper side of a like container; and gripping means at anupper side of each container to allow gripping and holding andtransporting one or more containers when attached to each other by saidattachment means.
 2. Modular system as defined in claim 1, furthercomprising a drawer mounted for sliding movement along said axis betweenan open position to provide access to said drawer and a closed positionin which the drawer is received within said container and forms one ofsaid end walls to close said container.
 3. Modular system as defined inclaim 2, further comprising locking means for selectively locking saiddrawer in said closed or open positions.
 4. Modular system as defined inclaim 1, further comprising tray means receivable through the top ofsaid container when said top panel is opened.